Author Profiles
Ohio has a rich literary heritage as well as some wonderful contemporary authors. Learn more about them here! You can sort by various categories and see who has participated in our annual book festival by using the category search on the left, or search by keyword (including partial author names) by using the search field on the right.
- You are searching within category(ies): Middle Grade
Marlane Kennedy
Marlane Kennedy is the author of two middle grade novels published by HarperCollins: Me and the Pumpkin Queen and The Dog Days of Charlotte Hayes. Both books were nominees to a variety of state award lists. She is also the author of the Disaster Strikes series published by Scholastic—adventures featuring ordinary kids in extraordinary situations that test their strength, smarts, and courage. Booklist praised the first release of the series: “Full of action and realistic friend dynamics…this holds strong appeal for both girls and boys and features a diverse cast of characters. A rare find in transitional chapter books.” A life-long Ohio resident, Marlane was born in Waverly, Ohio and now lives in Wooster, Ohio with her husband and daughter. Find her online at http://marlanekennedy.com.
Intisar Khanani
Intisar Khanani grew up a nomad and world traveler. She has lived in five different states as well as in Jeddah on the coast of the Red Sea. Until recently, Intisar wrote grants and developed projects to address community health with the Cincinnati Health Department, which was as close as she could get to saving the world. Now she focuses her time on her two passions: raising her family and writing fantasy. She is the author of The Sunbolt Chronicles and Thorn.
Sophia R. Klein
Sophia Klein wrote her first book, turtle tide, as a gift for her younger brother, Caleb at age 14. She was motivated by her love of marine see life and the hope for a better future for both humans and see life. Her fascination began at the age of seven when she watched the “dolphin tale “movies and learned the inspirational stories of the dolphins, winter and help. She has since journeyed each summer to Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Florida to attend camps to learn about marine life and aspires to make working On the preservation of marine life partOf her future. Her love of art started is lifelong and she began studying art at four years of age. She has been studying art through community courses at Columbus College of Art and design since age 8 and continues now at age 14. This book is a culmination of her passions for marine life, preservation,storytelling, art and a love for family that she hopes all children will love and be inspired by.
Sophia R. Klein
Sophia Klein wrote her first book, turtle tide, as a gift for her younger brother, Caleb at age 14. She was motivated by her love of marine see life and the hope for a better future for both humans and see life. Her fascination began at the age of seven when she watched the “dolphin tale “movies and learned the inspirational stories of the dolphins, winter and help. She has since journeyed each summer to Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Florida to attend camps to learn about marine life and aspires to make working On the preservation of marine life partOf her future. Her love of art started is lifelong and she began studying art at four years of age. She has been studying art through community courses at Columbus College of Art and design since age 8 and continues now at age 14. This book is a culmination of her passions for marine life, preservation,storytelling, art and a love for family that she hopes all children will love and be inspired by.
Mary Knight
Born and raised in Cincinnati, Mary has always enjoyed the power of a good story, whether it’s been as a children’s librarian, a freelance writer or a writer-in-residence teaching kids how to write. Several years ago, she decided to go back to school to learn how to write a novel. After graduating in 2013 from Spalding University’s MFA program in Writing, Mary completed her middle grade novel, SAVING WONDER, found the agent and editor of her dreams, and is now a published author with Scholastic.
Of all the things she appreciates in life, she especially values loving kindness, a good laugh, the wisdom of young people, and the ability to see the world through another person’s eyes. She believes this last quality, empathy, is the key to not only being a good friend and an awesome person, but being a good writer as well. “I must first step into the minds and hearts of my characters to discover their viewpoints,” she says. “Only then can I find the words to create their world.”
Mary and her husband now live in Lexington, Kentucky with their two cats.
Faith (FM) Knight
FAITH (FM) KNIGHT writes middle grade, young adult and new adult fiction. She is a former TV news reporter and digital producer. She is also the cousin of legendary children's book icon Virginia Hamilton. Her debut YA historical novel, As Gray As Black & White, received critical acclaim from Publisher's Weekly's indie arm BookLife.…
Read MoreFAITH (FM) KNIGHT writes middle grade, young adult and new adult fiction. She is a former TV news reporter and digital producer. She is also the cousin of legendary children’s book icon Virginia Hamilton. Her debut YA historical novel, As Gray As Black & White, received critical acclaim from Publisher’s Weekly’s indie arm BookLife.
She enjoys cooking, sewing and Bible education. She is from Yellow Springs, Ohio and now lives in North Carolina with her husband. You can find her books at https://therealknightauthor.com.
Christine Kohler
An Ohio native, Christine (Rhodeback) Kohler is the author of 17 nonfiction and fiction books for children and teens. A graduate of the University of Hawaii, she lived in Japan and Guam, the setting for her debut novel NO SURRENDER SOLDIER (Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster). She is also published in educational books, articles, poetry and photography.…
Read MoreAn Ohio native, Christine (Rhodeback) Kohler is the author of 17 nonfiction and fiction books for children and teens. A graduate of the University of Hawaii, she lived in Japan and Guam, the setting for her debut novel NO SURRENDER SOLDIER (Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster). She is also published in educational books, articles, poetry and photography.
Kohler now lives in Texas with her husband, whom she met at Kent State University. Contact her at ckohler@christinekohlerbooks.com ; website http://www.christinekohlerbooks.com/ ; facebook https://www.facebook.com/ChristineKohlerbooks/ ; twitter https://twitter.com/christinekohle1
Jason R. Lady
Jason is an army brat who grew up moving around a total of seven times on military bases from Germany to Fort Knox, Kentucky. When he’d move to a new base, Jason would star all the kids in his classes as characters in his own stories and comic strips. This helped kids from all over the country bond and have fun. Jason’s books have been accepted to the Ohioana Book Festival, the Kentucky Book Festival, and the Columbus Book Festival. His second book, Super Problems, was a Maxy Awards finalist and is IndieReader approved. When he’s not writing, Jason is into 1980s pop culture, follows the Cleveland Guardians, and has a goal to visit all the MLB baseball stadiums. Jason lives with his wife in Cleveland, Ohio. The Pure Shore Club is his 4th novel. Learn more at: https://www.jasonrlady.com/
Elisa Stone Leahy
Elisa Stone Leahy is a queer, Peruvian American children’s author who lives with her husband and kids in Columbus, Ohio. She likes writing about characters with complicated identities. She is the author of Mallory in Full Color and Tethered to Other Stars, which Kirkus Reviews called “beautifully executed.” You can find Elisa online at elisastoneleahy.com